Log tongs



Feb. 12, 1957 N. F. MELOY 2,781,224

LOG 'TONGS Filed Sept. 28, 1955 Norman. F. Me/oy I INVENTOR.

. By -MW United States Patent LOG TONGS Norman F. Meloy, Goldendale,Wash. Application September 28, 1955, Serial No. 540,308

3 Claims. (Cl. 294-118) The present invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in tongs or grapples particularly for lifting and loadinglogs, although it will be understood, of course, that the device may beused for any other purpose for which it may be found adapted.

The primary object of the invention is to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a pair of tongs of the aforementioned charactercomprising novel means whereby the boom operator may open and close thejaws, thereby expediting the loading operation with considerably lesslabor.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a pair of log tongs of thecharacter described which will be compara-tively simple in construction,strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use and which may bemanufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numeral-s refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a pair of log tongs constructedin accordance with the present invention, showing the jaws closed;

Figure 2 is an elevational view, looking at the opposite side of thetongs with the jaws open;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the device; and

Figure 4 is a view in horizontal section, taken substantially on theline 4-4 of Figure 3. 7

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that theembodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a pairof spaced, opposed coacting jaws of suitable metal. The jaws 5, whichare for the reception of the logs therebetween, are bowed outwardly andsaid jaws may be of any desired dimensions. The jaws 5 are hingedlyconnected at their upper ends, as indicated at 6.

Rising from the hingedly connected upper ends of the jaws 5 is a pair ofuncrossed opening arms 7. An opening cable 8 is connected to the arms 7by a ring 9 and flexible links 10.

Also rising from the hingedly connected upper ends of the jaws 5 is apair of crossed closing arms 11. A closing and lifting cable 12 isconnected to the arms 11 by rings or links 13.

It is thought that the operation of the device will be readily apparentfrom a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, to open the jaws 5, thecable 12 is slackened and the weight of the tongs is transferred to thecable 8. When this occurs the arms 7 swing toward each other for openingthe jaws 5. To close the jaws 5 on a log, for instance, the boomoperator slackens the cable 8 and takes up on the cable 12 therebyswinging the crossed arms 11 toward eaeh other for closing said jaws. Itwill thus be seen thQLa pair of tongs has been provided embodying acombination and arrangement of parts whereby the opening and closingoperations may be performed by the boom operator.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A pair of tongs comprising: a pair of opposed, coacting jaws hingedlyconnected at one end, means including arms on the hingedly connectedends of the jaws for opening said jaws, and means including additionalarms on said hingedly connected ends of said jaws for closing said jaws.

2. A pair of log tongs of the character described comprising: a pair ofopposed coacting jaws hingedly con nected at one end, a pair ofuncrossed arms on the hinged ends of the jaws, a cable connected to saidarms for open ing the jaws, and means including crossed arms on thehingedly connected ends of the jaws for closing said aws.

3. A pair of tongs of the character described comprising: a pair ofopposed coacting jaws hingedly connected at one end, a pair of uncrossedarms on the hingedly connected ends of the jaws, a pair of crossed armson said hingedly connected ends of said jaws, a cable connected to thefirst named arms for opening the jaws, and a cable connected to thesecond named arms for closing said jaws.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS454,335 Dugan June 16, 1891 1,364,820 Smith Jan. 4, 1921 1,479,407 DavisJan. 1, 1924

